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“Your father got out on bail.”
“Good for him,” I reply, making it clear I don’t care.This time away from him has given me the ability to reflect on our relationship whether it should continue.When you see someone every day, the idea of breaking ties with them seems absurd.Now I can see that maybe it would be for the best if I go no-contact with my father.“And I don’t think he cares if I know anyway.”
“He might now,” Deb says.
“Why?He’s neglected me at every opportunity.He’s never done anything for me.I haven’t gotten a birthday present from him since I was thirteen.I’ve always just been someone for him to use.”
“Yeah.That’s what I mean.You found something that sounded too good to be true, but it wasn’t, Clara.You told me the ink on the paperwork has dried, that the money’s in your bank account.You’re well off now, and you’ve got cash to spare.”
As she says the words, I begin to understand what she means.My dad always took any little money that I made, even from my meager, part-time, minimum wage jobs.With the generous payment Sebastian gave me?He’d definitely come knocking.
“If you want to help him, I understand,” Deb continues.“But you know I’ve been telling you to tell him to fuck off for years.He’s going to be on your back forever.Someone for you to keep taking care of.Someone who’s going to keep leeching off you, begging you, and calling you an unappreciative slut the second you refuse him anything at all.”
Maybe I’ll luck out and he won’t be able to find me?No.I can’t lock myself in this mansion forever.And rumors spread quickly around this little town of ours.Facing my father again is inevitable and to think otherwise would be naive of me.
“You alright?You’ve gone eerily silent, Clar.”
“I’m fine.Just thinking.Thanks for the heads up, Deb.I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Someone’s gotta be here for you.And it isn’t your dad.”
The call ends, and I sit up on the sofa, stewing.
The easy thing to do would be to just give him what he asks for.Which would be everything, knowing him.The money Sebastian is paying me isn’t infinite.A few cars, some harebrained get rich quick schemes, or some sort of property investment, and all that money would be gone.
It’s supposed to be for my future.My safety.Why should I have to take care of him?Especially with everything he’s done.
“Are you alright there?You’re looking awfully blue, my lovely.”Sebastian steps into the living room.In slacks and a white button-down shirt that has the top few buttons undone, he’s ever the sight for sore eyes.
“I’m not alright, no.”
He sits down next to me and holds me close.“What’s troubling you?”
“My father is out on bail.”
His face harshens.“So he is.”
“And I know he’s going to come find me.He’s going to figure out that I have money now and he’s going to browbeat me into giving it all to him.”
“You don’t need to give him a thing.That money belongs to you, Clara.”
“It does.And that’s the problem.I feel like I need to help him, Sebastian.He’s my father.Despite him talking down to me.Despite him stealing from me.Despite him doing the same to my mother.Despite him abusing her in so many ways...”
His brow furrows.“Abusing her?”
I stop.I just let out a family secret I swore never to tell anyone.
A secret he made me swear not to tell anyone.
“Abusing her how, Clara?”
My lips quiver.We spoke so much about our fathers already, and I stuck to my promise.
But why should I keep it?What purpose does such a promise serve?
“Every way you could think of,” I say, letting out a long breath.“I remember him screaming at her.I remember her spending mornings in front of the mirror trying to cover up the damage.I remember her tears, and hearing her through the thin walls of the apartment, even in the middle of the night.”
Sebastian’s eyes close, his hands balling into fists.
